Audrey Noji
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Audrey Noji ran for election to the Rancho Santiago Community College District to represent District 3 in California. Noji lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Noji completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, California (2024)
General election
General election for Rancho Santiago Community College District District 3
Cecilia Iglesias defeated Nelida Mendoza, Andrew Linares, and Audrey Noji in the general election for Rancho Santiago Community College District District 3 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Cecilia Iglesias (Nonpartisan)  | 45.4 | 8,464 |
 | Nelida Mendoza (Nonpartisan) | 22.9 | 4,272 | |
| Andrew Linares (Nonpartisan) | 17.9 | 3,325 | ||
 | Audrey Noji (Nonpartisan) | 13.8 | 2,564 | |
| Total votes: 18,625 | |||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Noji in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Audrey Noji completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Noji's responses.
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I have a wealth of experience in education having served for 25 years as an elected member of the Board of Education for the Santa Ana Unified School District and having served for 26 years as the Vice President, Student Services at a local community college. Further, I have lived in the Santa Ana community for more than 25 years. I have a Ph.D. degree in Education for Claremont Graduate University. I have previously been a licensed marriage and family therapist. I am a church deacon and involved with two local foundations serving Santa Ana youth.
- As a community college trustee, the focus must be on representing the needs of the local community. Our students need to have access to college and enough support to be successful. I would push for increased programs and services to assist students in reaching their educational goals in a timely manner and to make college more affordable. The community colleges has open doors for traditionally-aged students as well as those making career changes and those learning English.
- I believe in accountability and transparency. Members of the Board of Trustees must study all materials, ask pertinent questions, and become informed of all matters -- from policies to budget. My experience in the operations of community colleges and my extensive knowledge of budget and finance will enable me to assume the fiduciary responsibilities of a college trustee.
- By working collaboratively with faculty and staff, administration and community, we can create a more responsive community college. We will offer the courses and job training programs that will benefit students, we will provide resources and support services to ensure that students are able to complete their educational goals in a timely and successful manner. Our college graduates need to be prepared for the "world of work" and to earn a living wage to support themselves and to assist their families. By capitalizing on resources and mobilizing a cooperative spirit, we will be a productive and successful community college serving the local community.
College affordability. There are some programs in place to assist students with tuition and enrollment fees. However, the cost of books and materials has skyrocketed and at times cost more than the per unit fees. There are many individuals and parents who do not understand how the financial assistance program works and therefore are not receiving the support for which they qualify. Rather than this being a mystery, I want to make sure that all members of our community understand what support resources are available and how to access them. I do not want students and families making a decision NOT to attend college because they think they can't afford it.
I have frequently been asked this question, including who has been my role model. After many interviews, it became very clear -- my father. After being released from the concentration camp in Rohwer, Arkansas, he returned to Long Beach, California and became a gardener because no one was hiring "Japs" after World War II. He took a leadership role in the community and ran the local credit union with only a high school degree. He spoke English and Japanese fluently. He subscribed to and faithfully read Time magazine to stay up on things in the world. We never had a lot of money. He didn't want to fill out the financial aid application for me for college because he didn't want anyone to know how poor we were. In the community, he was looked up to. He was visible at all community functions and was frequently called upon to make presentations and visitations. I didn't know at the time that he was shaping my future leadership identity and commitment to community.
Ethical leadership: the public and employees must be able to look toward their elected officials as persons who represent the best of the college district. Board members must behave in a fashion that demonstrates their commitment to this position rather than looking beyond to other political offices. Board members' actions should be above reproach.
To be trustworthy and knowledgeable. I believe in fully studying and understanding the critical issues confronting the Board. I do not believe in blindly accepting the actions being placed for approval to the Board of Trustees without sufficient information and transparency. I believe that an elected official must act ethically and morally in their roles as elected officials -- showing respect for others, yet openly sharing one's thoughts, opinions, and reasons for taking positions on particular items.
The legacy that I would like to leave is a person who listened to everyone, asked good questions, studied all the information, and made decisions to benefit student success and institutional stability.
I was elected to the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education (which soon became the 5th largest district in the state). I was told, "You always run the first time for name recognition." I had no name recognition. I had no endorsements. I had no campaign experience. I had very little funds. So I walked door to door for days and weeks. For that particular election, the top 3 vote-getters were elected out of a field of 8. I came in 2nd out of 8 and was seated on the Board of Education.
I grew up working in my aunt's flower shop while in junior high school. At first I just did odd things but then became the bookkeeper for her business. I didn't have a business background, but learned a lot about income/expenses/balances. I worked in the flower shop through high school and college. Along the way, I learned about flowers and making floral arrangements -- learning/expanding both right brain and left brain functions!
FARSCCD -- Faculty Association of Rancho Santiago Community College District
CSEA Chapter 579 -- California State Employees Association
An absolute must. All financial transactions, incoming funds and expenditures must be fully disclosed and reviewed publicly prior to voting by the Board of Trustees. Frequently, the Board is asked to approve the district budget as a "consent item" on the agenda. This is absolutely unacceptable. The district budget must be fully sunshined and explained. Accountability is a must. Appropriate and thorough audits must be performed with results fully explained.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
